Ohio adds 1,900 construction jobs in past year, ranks 17th in U.S.

The Associated General Contractors of America says Ohio ranked 17th among the 19 states that added construction jobs in the past year, boosting construction employment by 1,900 jobs, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Construction unemployment throughout the U.S. has dropped to its lowest level since 2008, hitting 12.3 percent, the newspaper reports, even as 31 states lost construction jobs during the past year. The organization says smaller spending on public projects spurred decreases in other states.

Ohio had 176,100 total construction jobs in July, the newspaper reports. Ohio's neighbor to the west, Indiana, added 9,300 construction jobs in July — fifth most in the country — bringing its total to 127,900.